RTS Ireland Awards / Gradaim RTS 2026 Winners Announced
Awards hosted by RTÉ | Presented by Louise Duffy & Aisling Bonner
Thursday, 16 April 2026 | Dublin Royal Convention Centre
The winners of the 2026 Royal Television Society (RTS) Ireland Awards / Gradaim RTS were announced tonight at the annual awards event, this year in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. As it was RTÉ’s turn to host this year, the awards were presented by RTÉ Radio 1’s Louise Duffy and RTÉ 2FM’s Aisling Bonner (Pictured) in front of 400 guests from across Ireland’s television industry.
Awards were announced across the 12 categories decided by the RTS judging panel, as well as two special awards – the Breakthrough Talent Award and Outstanding Contribution Award. In addition, the RTS Audience Choice Award, which was voted for by the public and gave Irish audiences the opportunity to recognise their favourite television show that has been broadcast in 2025 on one of the partner broadcasters (Virgin Media Television, RTÉ, TG4 or Sky).
The Gradaim RTS / RTS Ireland Awards recognise outstanding achievement across programme‑making, performance, craft and design, journalism, student work and more, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the television industry in Ireland.
>>> This year’s winners are …
CATEGORY: Audience Choice Award
Presented by RTÉ News2day Presenter – Florence Okojie
>>> WINNER: The Walsh Sisters
CATEGORY: Scripted / Réamhscriptithe
Presented by RTÉ and TG4 broadcaster – Sinéad Ní Uallacháin
>>> WINNER: Obituary Season 2 – Magamedia & APC | RTÉ
Mix Tape – Subotica & Aquarius Films | RTÉ
Obituary Season 2 – Magamedia & APC | RTÉ
Video Nasty – Deadpan Pictures | Virgin Media Television
The Walsh Sisters – Metropolitan Pictures & Cuba Pictures | RTÉ
The Young Offenders Series 4 – Vico FIlms | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Entertainment / Siamsaíocht (Sponsored by Piranha Bar)
Presented by Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM presenter – Alan Hughes
>>> WINNER: The Traitors Ireland – Kite Entertainment | RTÉ
Beo ón Electric Picnic – 84/Ochtó4 Productions | TG4
Christmas in Kilmainham – RTÉ | RTÉ
No Worries If Not! – Wonky Chair Media | RTÉ
The Six O’Clock – Virgin Media Television | Virgin Media Television
The Traitors Ireland – Kite Entertainment | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Factual Series / Sraith Fhíorasach (Sponsored by Egg Post Production)
Presented by Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM presenter – Eric Roberts
>>> WINNER: NORAID: Irish America & The IRA – Up and Away Media | RTÉ
Bad Nanny – Alleycats Films | RTÉ
Death of a Showjumper – Walk on Air Films & Sky Studios | Sky Ireland
Hooked: How Addiction Hijacks Your Brain – Cable Rock Pictures | RTÉ
NORAID: Irish America & The IRA – Up and Away Media | RTÉ
Tarrac na Farraige – Red Shoe Productions | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Factual Single / Clár Fíorasach Aonair (Sponsored by Coimisiún na Meán)
Presented by RTÉ Broadcaster – Marty Morrissey
>>> WINNER: Ransom ’79 – John Kelleher Media | Virgin Media Television
Beo Faoin bhFód – Black Lobster Productions | TG4
Don’t Forget to Remember – Motherland | RTÉ
Meat Loaf: From Hell and To Connaught – Scratch Films | RTÉ
Ransom ’79 – John Kelleher Media | Virgin Media Television
President Connolly: How The Race Was Won – RTÉ | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Live Sport Coverage – Spórt Beo (Sponsored by TVM)
Presented by Virgin Media News Broadcaster – Colette Fitzpatrick
>>> WINNER: WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025 – RTÉ | RTÉ
British & Irish Lions v Argentina – 1888 Cup – IRIS Productions | TG4
FIFA World Cup Qualifier – Hungary v Republic of Ireland – RTÉ | RTÉ
GAA BEO: SÁR-DHOMHACH/SUPER SUNDAY – Nemeton TV | TG4
Rugbaí Beo: URC Final 2025 – Leinster v Vodacom Bulls – IRIS Productions | TG4
WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2025 – RTÉ | RTÉ
CATEGORY: News Broadcaster of The Year / Craoltóir Nuachta na Bliana (Sponsored by Camerakit.ie)
Presented by presenter of ‘An Deis’ on TG4 – Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile
>>> WINNER: RTÉ
RTÉ
Sky Ireland
Virgin Media Television
CATEGORY: Children’s Programming / Cláracha do Leanaí
Presented by Animator whose work appears on Sky and RTÉ – Will Sliney
>>> WINNER: Maddie + Triggs – Turnip + Duck | RTÉ
Fia’s Fairies S2 – Little Moon Animation | RTÉ
Maddie + Triggs – Turnip + Duck | RTÉ
New Wave – Gone West Media & Orangutan Productions| RTÉ
No Worries! – D11 Stories | RTÉ
Showkids – Dead Pan Pictures | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Specialist Factual / Sainchlár Fíorasach (Sponsored by Screenscene)
Presented by TG4 weather presenter – Caitríona Nic an tSaoir
>>> WINNER: Housewife of the Year – Little Wing Films | RTÉ
Battle of the Irish Dancers – Big Mountain Productions | Sky Ireland
Imelda May: Amhráin na nGael – Red Shoe Productions | RTÉ
Housewife of the Year – Little Wing Films | RTÉ
Oileán Glas, Fásach Bán – Crossing the Line Productions | TG4
NORAID: Irish America & The IRA – Up and Away Media | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Factual Entertainment / Siamsaíocht Fhíorasach (Sponsored by IMRO)
Presented by presenters – Brian Dowling and Katja Mia
WINNER: Uncharted With Ray Goggins – Diffusion Media | RTÉ
DIY SOS – The Big Build Ireland – Indiepics | RTÉ
Gogglebox Ireland – Kite Entertainment | Virgin Media Television
Living With Lucy & Caitlyn Jenner – ADARE Productions | Virgin Media Television
The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked – The Lab RTÉ | RTÉ
Uncharted With Ray Goggins – Diffusion Media | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Current Affairs / Cúrsaí Reatha (Sponsored by Nemeton TV)
Presented by Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM presenter – Martin King
>>> WINNER: DJ Carey – Hero to Zero | RTÉ
Prime Time: DJ Carey – Hero to Zero | RTÉ
Iniúchadh TG4 – Trump agus na Gaeil – Clean Slate | TG4
Prime Time: Death on a Doorstep – RTÉ | RTÉ
RTÉ Investigates: Inside Ireland’s Nursing Homes – RTÉ | RTÉ
First Conviction – RTÉ | RTÉ
CATEGORY: Sports Documentary / Clár Faisnéise Spóirt (Sponsored by NEP)
Presented by Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM presenter – Muireann O’Connell
WINNERS: Camogie: Inside the Championship – Kite Entertainment & True Films | RTÉ
Camogie: Inside the Championship – Kite Entertainment & True Films | RTÉ
Clár Faisnéise Spóirt George Best i gCorcaigh – Dearg Films | TG4
Hell For Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football – Crossing the Line Productions | RTÉ
One Valentine’s Day in Edinburgh – Carbonated Comet Productions | RTÉ
This is Open Country – Rocky Valley Productions | Sky Ireland
CATEGORY: Short Film / Gearrscannáin (Sponsored by Screen Ireland)
Presented by Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM presenter – Deric Hartigan
>>> WINNERS: Grace – Invisible Thread | RTÉ
Glitch – Dyehouse Films | RTÉ
Grace – Invisible Thread | RTÉ
The Ick – Playbook Media | RTÉ
Santa’s Holiday – Ink and Light | RTÉ
Trasna na Líne – Reblis Films | Virgin Media Television
CATEGORY: Breakthrough Talent Award
Presented by RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars judge – Arthur Gourounlian
>>> WINNER: Eric Roberts
This award is decided by the RTS ROI Committee and recognises new and emerging professional excellence in the role of Presenter, Journalist, Show Host, Interviewer, Commentator or Cast Member.
CATEGORY: An Gradam Comaoine | Outstanding Contribution Award
Presented by RTÉ Radio 1 presenter – Fiachna Ó Braonáin
>>> WINNER: Manchán Magan
The award for Special Recognition is decided by the RTS ROI Committee and presented to a person or group of people that have made a significant contribution to the Irish television scene over a number of years.
The Gradaim RTS / RTS Ireland Awards are sponsored by Screen Producers Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, Screen Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland, Screen Ireland, IMRO, Screen Scene, Piranha Bar, Egg Post Productions, TVM, CameraKit.ie, Production People, NEP and Nemeton TV.
Music performances at the awards were from Jerry Fish and the Discovery Gospel Choir, with Gavin Murphy on keys and guitar.
ENDS
For information:
RTS: Loren McNerney Quigley | RTS Republic of Ireland | rtsroi@rts.org.uk
RTÉ: Neil O’Gorman | Corporate Communications Manager | neil.ogorman@rte.ie